Feb 03
"I'm talkin' to you Mexico."
New York Mets property Nelson Figueroa threw a 106 pitch complete game, allowing 3 hits and 1 run on a solo homer, and his Mets organization-mate Fernando Martinez hit a first inning 2-run homer giving the Domincan Republic a 4 run lead which they never lost en route to a 7-1 victory over Mexico and a 2-0 record for the early lead in the round robin Caribbean Series.
MLBTradeRumors
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Last Night on the Farm - 5/20/13 { First, I have to say... } – May 21, 8:29 AMHow Much Longer Should The Mets Go... { We'll see. Not sure how... } – May 20, 5:44 PM
81 comments
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-5:57pm at 5:57 pm (UTC -4)
Hey look I can post again. Happily whatever was problematic earlier today has passed.
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
I had that same problem myself for an hour or so late this afternoon.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
And the blogosphere’s collective IQ has risen significantly with your ability to once again post at will…..
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-6:04pm at 6:04 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, Dang….I cannot believe I forgot this game was going to be televised today. got involved with work and next thing you know, I see this post.
Thanks for the update.
And good for Figgy. He certainly has no problem pitching in every other league and the minors. Wonder why that never translated to a good career in the ML for him?
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
I said this before but Buffalo Bisons baseball will be fun to watch indeed.
1B Ike Davis
CF Fernando Martinez
RF Val Pascucci
LF Chris Carter
C Josh Thole
SS Ruben Tejada
SP Brad Holt
SP Jenrry Mejia
SP Fernando Nieve
SP Jonathan Niese
SP Nelson Figueroa
CL Eddie Kunz
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Smells like a good idea for a post. Anyone up for it?
wannybackstra
2/3/2010-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
You can probably write in Hessman at DH or 3B but probably will have to ship Niese or Nieve to NY to start as soon as a fifth starter is needed.
Have they announced that Holt and Mejia will be in Buffalo? I think Holt would be a mistake and I would also be hesitant to start Mejia there, as well.
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:19pm at 6:19 pm (UTC -4)
No announcements yet but having both Holt and Mejia start at least 10 games each at AA last year and Mejia pitching Winterball all it might take is a good Spring Training or a decent start down at AA and by late May they might be up at AAA.
wannybackstra
2/3/2010-6:25pm at 6:25 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, if they pitch as well as they are capable they’ll be up to AAA some time soon. I just hope they have to earn it first.
And I’d really prefer to let Mejia develop as long as he needs.
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
We haven’t even discussed the Familia’s Beulac’s and Rustich’s of the world. that after a successful A ball season are knocking at the door of AA with hopes of opening more eyes around baseball.
wannybackstra
2/3/2010-6:45pm at 6:45 pm (UTC -4)
Rustich is the one guy from that group who can move fast if healthy.
Kyle Allen is held in as high regard as those guys (except for maybe Familia) if not higher.
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:51pm at 6:51 pm (UTC -4)
true
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
That should be a very good team…about time the Mets minor leaguers start to win, and I sure can see that team doing some winning.
Maybe GMJ can shore up the outfield when Beltran returns…I bet he would be REALLY good in AAA.
wannybackstra
2/3/2010-6:22pm at 6:22 pm (UTC -4)
I think you’ll have to figure Josh Peterson and maybe Jesus Feliciano into the outfield mix too so that someone catches the ball. I’d guess there would be a rotation out there with Pascucci spending plenty of time at DH.
Dillon Gee will be in the rotation unless he pulls a Brian Bannister dark horse victory to go north. I guess Tobi Stoner will also be in it.
And the pen should have whichever of Lopez, Marshall, Egbert, Misch and Everts don’t make the Mets roster.
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:25pm at 6:25 pm (UTC -4)
Scary but if you let your mind wander by this time next year (dare I say it?) Minaya may be heralded for not trading these kids away.
-GULP
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-7:47pm at 7:47 pm (UTC -4)
I was thinking that same thing myself yesterday. How ironic would it be if in the next year or so all of a sudden Omar is depicted as a genius?
Of course, he’ll have to make it through this season though….
CaseStreet
2/3/2010-6:34pm at 6:34 pm (UTC -4)
Think Merritt will be the closer in Buffalo or is that Kunz’s job?
wannybackstra
2/3/2010-6:44pm at 6:44 pm (UTC -4)
Merritt was a AA All-Star but he wasn’t particularly special. If Merritt is in AAA (and I’m not convinced he will be) I think they may split some opportunities. In an effort to resuscitate Kunz’s value I think they at least have to give him a try.
CaseStreet
2/3/2010-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
LEFTY/RIGHTY Closer Platoon. Sweet!
trs86
2/3/2010-11:02pm at 11:02 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t forget Hessman. That guy can hit.
CaseStreet
2/3/2010-6:22pm at 6:22 pm (UTC -4)
Does that count as 1 of Figgy’s 20 wins he’ll get this year?
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-6:25pm at 6:25 pm (UTC -4)
LOL!
Yes, and he already has stints planned in Mexico, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan starting in late October, so if he pitches every other day there the last 10 weeks of the year, he might pick up those 20 wins.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
My Spanish is poor but if I get the gist of this correctly using the google translator (which always spits out a bizarre sentence or two) essentially he feels he is good enough to help the Mets in the majors either as a starter or reliever and that if he doesn’t make the ML club he hopes they’ll release him so he can try and catch on elsewhere. It seems to indicate that if no one then signs him for an ML job he would be willing to come back to the Mets organization in AAA but would first like the opportunity to try and catch on elsewhere in the majors. This sounds eerily familiar.
http://www.beisbolvenezolano.net/?p=13196
CaseStreet
2/3/2010-6:40pm at 6:40 pm (UTC -4)
pretty much, though he doesn’t mention other teams, just that if he doesn’t stick with the team, they’ll put him on waivers and if he’s still free, he’ll go to AAA.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
That’s fair. Perhaps I read too much into the “if I clear I might go to AAA” bit.
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:45pm at 6:45 pm (UTC -4)
“No quiero luchar en AAAâ€
translation: I don’t want to fight in AAA. (I assume fight to make the big club down in AAA)
“Creo que hay un lugar para mà por todo lo que puedo hacer con el equipo. Puedo ser abridor o relevista y ayudar en esta época –abril- en que hace bastante frÃoâ€
translation: I think there is a place for me because of all I can do for the team. I can be a starter a reliever during the time of April. When it is very cold.
“Si no hago equipo con los Mets, ellos me pondrán en waivers, y si sigo libre, quizás irÃa a AAAâ€.
translation: If I don’t make the team with the Mets they will put me on waivers and if I clear I might go to AAA.
“Si todos están en forma, el equipo será mejorâ€
translation: If everyone is in shape the team will be better.
“La oportunidad de pitchear con tantos paÃses es muy buena para mÃâ€
translation: The opportunity to have pitched for so many countries is very good for me.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-6:35pm at 6:35 pm (UTC -4)
And I found this link at MLBTR which described Nelson as “free agent journeyman” so I attempted to leave a comment that he was in fact on the Mets 40-man roster and was informed that my comment was “awaiting moderation.” I wonder if I’ve offended someone at MLBTR?
CaseStreet
2/3/2010-6:44pm at 6:44 pm (UTC -4)
I got your back.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-6:50pm at 6:50 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks homie.
I think I may have gone into moderation because I used the phrase “according to the Mets mlb.com site…” perhaps the “dot com” aspect is not appreciated there.
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:49pm at 6:49 pm (UTC -4)
i remember seeing a while back where comments critiquing someone in the media was also pulled.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-6:52pm at 6:52 pm (UTC -4)
Well I wasn’t very nice about it so perhaps that’s it. In addition to the “mlb.com” reference I note above I also started my post by saying “someone should tell the Mets that Nelson Figueroa is a ‘free agent journeyman…’”
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
If that goes for not being nice then we will all burn in hell for what we say here.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
Punto excelente!
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-7:05pm at 7:05 pm (UTC -4)
That is for sure!!
(Trying to put out engulfing flames)
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-7:51pm at 7:51 pm (UTC -4)
I regularly read posts over there and I see tons of negative comments about guys in the media. I don’t know though what they consider negative critiquing….I’ve seen some pretty rough comments though.
More and more lately I’ve seen where comments were pulled so either the masses are getting worse in stuff they throw out there anonymously or they now have more moderators.
trs86
2/3/2010-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
Guys gotta start getting recognition for pitching 400+ innings a year.
CaseStreet
2/3/2010-6:59pm at 6:59 pm (UTC -4)
Didn’t know Wilpons were in the brewing business?
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-7:16pm at 7:16 pm (UTC -4)
You know I can’t help it but every time I look at the pic of Nelson up top I here The Simpson’s Bumble Bee Man saying “¡Ay, ay, ay, no es bueno!” (“That’s not good!”)
Hazmet
2/3/2010-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
How ’bout Eli Wallach to Clint Eastwood at the end of the good, the bad and the ugly
Tu es un punto grande!!! maybe he was speaking of MC, oops I promised to stop that.
Hazmet
2/3/2010-7:24pm at 7:24 pm (UTC -4)
I think it was that, i barely understand English let alone espanol.
Mr North Jersey
2/3/2010-7:30pm at 7:30 pm (UTC -4)
LoL I think he said Puto grande which if I am correct is big f@gg0t.
Hazmet
2/3/2010-7:33pm at 7:33 pm (UTC -4)
That’s what I thought! thanks. My best friend growing up was Cuban and I couldn’t speak a word of spanish but I somehow can understand those “fun words” from being in his house.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-8:22pm at 8:22 pm (UTC -4)
Please don’t stop that…..
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-8:25pm at 8:25 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone seen Mattsblog’s story about Uncle Cliffy and his time with the Mets? Not good. Go check it out…..
I wasn’t around too much today, so forgive me if everyone has already seen it.
QnsNative718
2/3/2010-8:28pm at 8:28 pm (UTC -4)
Cliff and Straw talking about the lack of chemistry/attitude in the same week. Ugh..
QnsNative718
2/3/2010-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
Brock, I havent been around obviously, so Im interested in your take this offseason.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-9:04pm at 9:04 pm (UTC -4)
Hey Dirk-Thanks for asking!
My last two somewhat verbose opinion pieces last week blabbed on and on, but my take is basically this:
I wanted Halladay. I also wanted Lackey, but after all, Lackey is not an ace, and has had arm injuries the last two years, so all in all, I totally support giving Bay the dough instead.
I love the Bay pickup. He hits everywhere, and is pretty quick, and despite all the stuff about his fielding, he played 199 games in LF in Fenway and had exactly 1 error and 20 assists. Not bad.
We needed a number 2 starter, but Lackey was the only one out there. Pineiro had one good year after 5 straight awful ones. We already have one Ollie. Marquis SUCKS. Wolf….Garland….ehhh. And Sheets for 10+ mil after his injury history and what we saw last year seems reasonable to pass on.
I commend Omar for not overpaying for one of these pitchers.
I definitely did like the idea of Molina for 2 years, one to start, and one to platoon with/mentor Thole. However, with a healthy Beltran, I have no problem with Santos and the valuable Blanco hitting 8th while Thole hopefully gets ready to take over. If Santos cannot call a game, let someone do it from the dugout.
I believe Murph can be a .300 hitter with a .370+ OBP with lots of 2B. I am eager to see if I am right.
I can understand the organization wanting to give one last chance to Pelf/Maine/Ollie, but if 2 of them bomb again, we have a serious problem. These three hold the season in their hands and largely empty heads.
I love the bullpen’s potential. The YouTube footage of Igarashi looks great; a healthy Escobar can be valuable; Fogg was GREAT against RH hitters out of the pen last year; and throw all of this in with KRod and Feliciano, and a hopefully maturing Parnell, and the pen can hopefully finally be a strength.
Overall, not a very good offseason, but not a bad one either. I really like Tatis/Catalanotto as a righty/lefty ultra-versatile 1-2 punch off the bench. But this hinges on Murph and Slappy playing well enough that these two can be reserves, not starters; same with Cora. Some guys are meant to be reserves.
There were 3 major free agents, and once again, we got one of them.
As for the payroll currently being low, I truly want to believe that the team believes in Pelf/Maine/Ollie, and if they don’t get it done, I look for all of that dough to be spent on major mid-season acquisitions…AGonz? Someone like Lee if the Mariners bomb? Or someone we just cannot predict right now.
If the starters don’t get it done, and we do not make serious midseason moves, then yes, it is time for the optimists to admit that the Wilpons may indeed not really care as much about winning as the fans. But for now, I am willing to give the little three of Pelf/Ollie/Maine that last chance and also give ownership the benefit of the doubt that they did not overspend on mediocrity so they will have flexibility at midseason if the team tanks, or after next season when the FA class will be far superior.
So what do you think?
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-8:33pm at 8:33 pm (UTC -4)
Kong, I am going to be deliberately cryptic so if you don’t get me I will email you, but after not checking my email for about 6 hours I just did and found 47 new ones, and they seem to suggest that I directed my ire today at a friend of the family. That’s interesting news to me.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-8:47pm at 8:47 pm (UTC -4)
Just emailed you….
saltygary
2/3/2010-8:52pm at 8:52 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for raising it. I only go to that site when I need my hate meter filled.
Cliff was a good Met, I wish his tenure with the team was longer. I’ll never forget that scene in in the playoffs when he re-injured his ankle. He is lying on the steps that lead to the clubhouse with the trainer in tremendous pain and the look on his face has more heart and passion than any Met have shone since. You could of chopped that guys leg off and he was still getting out there. If he says there’s a problem, then there is. He’s not the guy to talk crap just to be in a story.
QnsNative718
2/3/2010-9:00pm at 9:00 pm (UTC -4)
Cliff was the man, but no one was shocked when the Mets didnt resign him for ’07. Injuries plagued the guy.. Unfortunately we got another injury plagued guy to replace him.
saltygary
2/3/2010-9:03pm at 9:03 pm (UTC -4)
Yea no doubt he was done after that year. His legs were shredded. I was always a big fan when he was with Florida and was pumped when the team signed him.
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
Loved Uncle Cliffy back in the day……
So we’ve got a guy from the ’86 team saying this team needs more attitude and one from the ’06 dominant team saying this team has a chemistry problem.
I always found that clubhouse leader concept to be a little exaggerated but maybe I’m off on that. I know you can have a clubhouse problem or ‘cancer’ in the clubhouse, if you will, but do you really need a clear cut leader for a bunch of grown men getting paid more money than I’ll ever see in my lifetime – and getting paid to do something they all clearly love?
Or is he really saying it’s not so much that there is no ‘leader’, per say, but that there is bigger problem with the team, as a whole?
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-9:18pm at 9:18 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I know a lot of people say there is no such thing as chemistry, but I for one totally disagree.
It can be a chicken and egg debate, but still, when one looks back at some great championship teams one finds some similarities.
The 60s Packers still get together, as do the 72 Dolphins. The 86 Mets had an incredible bond among them that still seems evident today when you see some of them together. As a Net fan, there is no doubt that the great early 2000s Net teams had amazing chemistry on and off court. In football and basketball, how can anyone dispute that chemistry can matter?
And when people cite the 70s As or Yanks as examples of lack of chemistry, I totally disagree–APATHY is the lack of chemistry, or as the old quote says “25 men, 25 cabs.” Those As and Yankee teams were loaded with giant personalities who may have physically fought, but there is no doubt they respected each other and pushed each other to compete harder and harder, and maximized their talents as individuals and as a team.
I dread this memory, but after the next to last game in 2007, the Nats-Phils were on TV next and a Nats win meant the Mets lived for one more day. Willie Randolph, right after the game, said he was going out to dinner and not watching. David Wright and others said the same. I felt like a jackass glued to the TV rooting for the Nats when the Mets were not. Had that been 1986, you know damn well those guys would have been somewhere together, getting drunk as hell, mocking each other and watching every second of that game.
I HATE to admit it, but to me, that right there is what may infect this Met group, without LoDuca, Floyd, and Valentin.
Anyway, that’s my take.
Apathy is the sports opposite of chemistry. Chemistry in sports doesn’t mean loving each other, but it means caring deeply and having strong feelings about the team and your teammates.
Willie and Wright should have been watching the Nats-Phils game that day, as I was, and as my Dad was and as I bet a lot of you folks were. But they went out to dinner instead.
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-9:26pm at 9:26 pm (UTC -4)
I believe in chemistry and a team all clicking together. It’s the no clear cut clubhouse leader concept I’m not too sure about. To a big extent, isn’t that what a manager is for?
So….. what? We’ve got 25-30 guys all nit picking and/or finger pointing and/or muttering under their breath in that clubhouse and it’s affecting on field play?
Whether they loved or hated each other back in ’86, I’m thinking they all came together as a team for a large part b/c of Davey. He told them in ST they were good, told them all they would dominate and they all bought into it.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-9:30pm at 9:30 pm (UTC -4)
GREAT point.
Gil in 1969, Yogi in 1973, Davey in 1986, even Bobby V in 2000—those were leaders.
I said many times last year that the sloppy play and the leadership vacuum could be laid to rest right at the feet of Jerry the Joker.
The 2006 team had guys like Cliff and Valentin and LoDuca to lead and supply fire.
Again, I hate to think that that is what we have been missing, but that might be what we have been missing.
QnsNative718
2/3/2010-9:36pm at 9:36 pm (UTC -4)
Brock, Im gonna get back at you tomorrow. Nighty night for me..
saltygary
2/3/2010-9:39pm at 9:39 pm (UTC -4)
Yea even look at the ’07-’08 Giants knocking off the Pats. That team got together all on the same page as a team and decided they were not going to lose. That defense acted like every play was their last.
For that ’86 team, the most goody too-shoes guy in baseball Gary Carter who was almost a pariah in that club house because of his bible toting no drinking behavior was still respected because in the trenches he had everyone’s back. That’s why they won because they had everyone back. Everyone was hungry to be the hero and if they couldn’t that night they trusted the others to be that guy.
Wagner, Wright and even Beltran at times can be that guy but it doesn’t seem like the rest follow. Reyes is electrifying but not leading. Wagner was probably too aggressive and it turned everyone off.
The one thing about this bad offseason, is that they got a fighter in Bay. He’s not out spoken but he goes to work with his head down and does his job.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-9:44pm at 9:44 pm (UTC -4)
Very poignant tale about you and your dad and that Nats-Phils game, it really does point out the apathy. Before replying I struggled to find justification for Wright’s and Willie’s choice and ultimately failed because each one led back to the idea that they (Wright and Willie) had already been defeated and that even if the Nats had won the Mets would’ve blown their next opportunity. That’s sad.
I appreciate that you allowed for the chicken/egg theory relating to the chemistry/winning. I know it’s very difficult to quantify, and I am not entirely sure how it’s different from the “grit” and “heart” that many of us often disparage, but I guess whether it’s chemistry or grit or heart what I ultimately believe about them is they do exist but one can’t simply force them to be or acquire them. They must generate organically within.
So David Wright certainly didn’t have any of those things with him on the day he chose to go to dinner rather than watch the game. Has he developed them since? If not, will he ever? I can’t say.
I think some signs point to the idea that perhaps Francoeur can be a pivot point in this team developing some, especially if he starts taking his current teammates on golf trips and to college football games as he does with his former teammates. I also think that perhaps some of the new additions whose “character” I began to chronicle over the weekend could be a step in the right direction. I can only hope that those players who were already here are open to the possibility.
ceetar
2/3/2010-9:50pm at 9:50 pm (UTC -4)
The justification is that it was beyond their control, and no matter what they had to go out and win on Sunday. Don’t take the stress and angst of watching the game, focus on what you ahve to go out and do tomorrow. If it was the other way around and the Mets were 1 up they would’ve watched because it would’ve been potentially clinching. (Btw, that game certainly showed how clutch and big-game the Phillies were right? The only game the entire season where they were in complete control and they blew it)
I never bought the ’07 team was lazy/soft. The bullpen just sucked and was overworked. If you go back and look, they came back again and again from deficits, only to have the game blown again.
GravediggerHebner
2/3/2010-9:58pm at 9:58 pm (UTC -4)
You make a fair point about it being out of their control, but it was nonetheless something that had a major impact on their livelihood and for lack of a better way to put it, their “immediate schedule.” I ultimately just find it hard to believe that “I’ll check later” is reasonable when faced with something so relevant and important. “Baseball men” are supposed to love baseball and their choice that day showed to me that they had “put in their time” and were now “off the clock” with no emotional involvement whatsoever. Obviously I don’t know either man this is just my personal opinion.
I agree with your second paragraph. I don’t think they were lazy or soft, but Wright’s and Willie’s disinterest suggests to me that perhaps they were “tired” and I hope I’m making an appropriate distinction between that and “lazy.”
ceetar
2/3/2010-10:08pm at 10:08 pm (UTC -4)
I could see them being tired. They were falling off a cliff and not watching the game was the equivalent of “Don’t look down”
I mean, both guys stood there in the beginning of the season and sat and watched the Cardinal ring/banner ceremony. I know it’s not the same thing but it does suggest an interest beyond putting in their time.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-10:12pm at 10:12 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, but that Nats-Phils game held the entire Met season in its hands for those 9 innings.
Ceetar, maybe it is an imperfect comparison, but if you are old enough to remember, don’t you think the 86 team would have been watching that game together while getting soused?
ceetar
2/3/2010-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
Not old enough to remember…well. Certainly not well enough to judge character.
I think that speaks more to generational differences though too. Back then it was more common to hang out after the game, stay with the team, etc. You could even drink in the clubhouses (most clubhouses are alcohol free now). With the internet and cellphones and all that, everyone just has something else to do. For better or worse.
I remember hearing reports about the Mets(some of them at least) being pretty fired up and such on that Sunday.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
Great points.
The game and the world were vastly different places in 1986.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-10:09pm at 10:09 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I do not think they were lazy and soft, but do these guys live and breathe baseball like Keith and Wally and Lenny did?
That is my point.
Can we win without a leader like Gil or Davey, both of whom make Jerry look even worse, which is no easy feat.
I love Wright; I defend him against all of the Wright is unclutch numbskulls and I definitely think I saw some leadership last year when he was getting in Pelf’s face in the dugout.
I hope this carries over, and that he and Johan lead this team.
And I agree with Salty above and Grave that Bay and Frenchy can definitely be the gritty gutty guys we need.
Now, if they can channel the sprit of the legendary postseason hero Gritty McHudson, we are set.
ceetar
2/3/2010-10:27pm at 10:27 pm (UTC -4)
This was one of my biggest arguments against Manuel when he was first ‘hired’.
I thought they should’ve gone for someone outside the organization. Besides the obvious influx of fresh ideas and perspective, it would sorta force Wright to step up a little bit. Wright would be more of a conduit between the new manager and the team. “Hey David, what do you guys normally do here..” or something. He would be the leader on the team to help the new manager get a feel for the place. By promoting Manuel, there was none of that.
Kingman 26
2/3/2010-10:34pm at 10:34 pm (UTC -4)
Again, great points.
As optimistic as I generally am, I truly think Jerry is a mediocre manager.
Like in Chicago, he seems just good enough to sit back, use ancient, by-the-book 1970s strategies, and guide talented teams to 2nd place finishes.
I do think that when Wrught got in Pelf’s face in the dugout and publicly called out the team’s preparation that we might have seen the beginning of Wright the leader.
I certainly hope so.
Johan yelling at Jerry on the mound when being taken out that time, and ignoring Jerry’s damn bunt sign and slashing that RBI hit were also hopefully signs of his growing team leadership.
I seriously hope that Johan and Wright step up this year and take the leadership reigns.
ceetar
2/3/2010-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
Now Now Kingman, it was a 2RBI Double that Santana laced into the RF corner after he blew off the bunt sign.
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-10:50pm at 10:50 pm (UTC -4)
I truly believe that Jerry is probably a good guy, might even be a decent manager of a big league club but he’s the wrong guy for this group right now.
I can’t help but think about Gil Hodges and that ’69 team. Now there’s a man I’ll bet who was very well respected by all on that team even though he was tough, he expected everyone’s best, every day, no excuses. That ’69 team was a complete team effort. Very good pitching and offense where I believe only one guy reached .300 that season. They weren’t a team of established superstars. What they had though was a man at the helm who believed in them and expected all to bring it to the table.
I was fortunate to have witness that ’69 year but a little too young for the philosophy of it all back then. I just know I sure did enjoy the heck out of it though.
ceetar
2/3/2010-9:44pm at 9:44 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not sure I buy it. Is David Wright secretly telling Cliff that the clubhouse is bad? And again, this clubhouse hasn’t really existed since May of last year anyway.
Who’s still here from ’06? Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Manuel, Maine, Perez, 20IP of Pelfrey.
Who’s not? Bay, Pagan, Francoeur, Santana, Santos/Thole/Blanco, Murphy, Castillo, Tatis, GMJ, Cora…
I don’t think he knows what he’s talking about. Same with Strawberry.
I just think they remember what things were like, when they were winning, and don’t see it as much on the team that was losing, and draw conclusions. But really it’s just that they were struggling so don’t look like they’re as “happy and excited” or whatever.
Also, does Francesa have to find some way to bring up the racism/clubhouse chemistry question every time he interviews anyone that’s ever been in the Mets clubhouse?
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
One of my fondest wishes is the Mets dominate again as in ’06, the Yankees are out of it by the ASB, and Francesa has to sing the Mets praises for an entire second half of the season all the while watching the Yankee’s funeral.
Now THAT would definitely be worth me tuning in again and listening to his show all afternoon…..
ceetar
2/3/2010-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
If you learned anything from the Jets this January, you know he’ll still kill the Mets up until game 7 of the World Series..and probably still.
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-11:11pm at 11:11 pm (UTC -4)
Oh for crying out loud….
Sports business writer Thomas Van Riper, of Forbes, believes Fred Wilpon is making a run at being the worst owner in baseball, saying:
“Wilpon’s two biggest problems: his assumption that New York fans demand a winner each and every year, and his apparent obsession with the Yankees… That one step back that’s usually required to move two steps forward (rebuilding), is one that Wilpon has never been willing to take.â€
****************
Can the season just start already?
trs86
2/3/2010-11:30pm at 11:30 pm (UTC -4)
Blood in the water.
trs86
2/3/2010-11:33pm at 11:33 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone actually think, rationally bias aside, the Mets should consider firing Omar right now just to move on and try and get some positive press? I know the press is the press but it seems as though it’s having a very negative affect on the lemmings in our fanbase which could have an effect on the Mets players as well as ticket sells.
metsfan4decades
2/3/2010-11:54pm at 11:54 pm (UTC -4)
I really think they should have done it last Oct- both him and Jerry.
It might appease the fan base if they did it now but at what price?
Something tells me Wilpon doesn’t make these type business decisions lightly or quickly. If he gave the vote of confidence to Omar coming out of the end of that disaster of a season, why would he let him conduct all team business off season then turn around and replace him right now, before the season started?
Only reason I can think of is if he really did give Omar full autonomy and he suddenly decides he doesn’t like any of the moves Omar did/did not make this off season, then he might not wait any longer to replace him. But something tells me Omar really does not have full autonomy, which means Wilpon is pulling the strings and it’s his mindset as much as Omar’s this is the team we’re going into Opening Day with….
darknova306
2/4/2010-6:14am at 6:14 am (UTC -4)
Agreed, I was hoping we’d let go of both those clowns when the season ended.
I think the Wilpons are waiting to see if the team comes up lame in the 2010 season. If that happens, Omar is the perfect fall guy to take heat from the Wilpons. I doubt they’d let him go right now. You don’t dump scapegoats until they can help you the most.
stickguy
2/4/2010-7:45am at 7:45 am (UTC -4)
Don’t really see it happening, but it makes some sense.
If they did give him the off season to turn things around, and don’t feel that he did it, making the change now is the right time. Let the person taking over (unelss, of course, it is Jeffy) handle the draft, and finalizing the team, and getting ready for mid-season trades.
If they know he is gone after the year, get it over with. Although not sure they would do it to get (or avoid) positive/negative press, or as a virgin sacrifice to the fans.
Oh, and by turn things around, I mean the organizational issues, not just roster moves. Assuming, of course, he still had authority to do so.
Now, the cynical view might be that the Wilpons knew the off season was going to disappoint the fans (part of the plan), and kept Omar just so they could hang him out to dry to deflect the blame. Not that I am a cynic or anything.
gategem
2/4/2010-2:46am at 2:46 am (UTC -4)
Over at Amazin’ Avenue KeithsMoustache takes an in depth look at the Mets. He backs his analysis with metrics which I believe makes it all the more plausible. But that is my viewpoint which is probably tempered by my math and science background. However you look at it, it makes for interesting reading.
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/2/1/1288182/looking-at-what-we-do-have-part-1#storyjump
prismo
2/4/2010-3:56am at 3:56 am (UTC -4)
Woo Figgy! Way to go!